Ornament with connecting means



s July 4, 1961 J. BURNBAUM ORNAMENT WITH CONNECTING MEANS Filed April 29,Y 1960 m J. H ..1 M m CQ m M M lll. Y n 8 lo 0 B 0 w 7 w a \\|I I Z l M 2m 4 Y m 0 l la w 2 0 6 3 A. M r 4. /1 l 2 l. 2 m m United States Patent O M 2,990,640 AORNAMENT WITH CONNECTING MEANS Jack Burnbaum, Newton, Mass., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Bradford Novelty Co., Inc., Cambridge, Mass.

Filed Apr. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 25,721 SClaims. (Cl. 41-10) This invention relates to an ornament having connecting means.

One object of my invention is to provide an ornament, several of which can be connected together, each ornament having its own connecting means whereby one ornament can be readily connected to, and `disconnected from another, to make a chain of ornaments of any desired number.

Another object is to provide said ornaments with connecting members one of which is open and can receive and retain a connecting member of another ornament.

A further object is to provide each said ornament with a looped member and with retainer fingers spaced apart, whereby a looped member of one ornament, once it enters the space between said fingers of `another ornament, will be retained within said space indefinitely.

A still further object is to provide such an ornament that is attractive in appearance, can be manufactured at relatively low cost, and one can be connected to another, or disconnected, by a simple movement which even a child can make.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement such as is disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such `as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as `fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of @a plurality of my ornaments connected together.

FIG. 2 is another side elevational View of said ornaments taken at a right angle to the view shown in FIG. 1.

FIGT 3 is an enlarged sectional View, broken, away, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

As illustrated, my ornament has a main body 10, which is round or ball-shaped as shown. Said body has a central solid portion 12 and laterally extending ribs 14 spaced apart at opposite sides. Extending outwardly from the so-lid portion 12 is a closed loop member 16 having an opening 17 that is preferably oval-shaped so that the ornaments will always hang evenly when connected.

Extending outwardly from and integral with, the solid portion 12, at a point approximately 180 degrees from said loop member 16, is a connector having a retainer finger 18, and another retainer finger 20 spaced, :as at 22, from said finger 18. Said space 22 increases in width towards the body solid portion 12, thereby permitting free movement of said loop member within said space at the maximum width of the latter. Said ngers preferably are thicker at their outer end extremities to add strength and stability thereto.

The outer end portion of said loop member 16 is of greater width than the narrowest part of said space 22, therefore, when said ornaments are connected, with a said loop member 16 confined in the space between a pair of retainer fingers 18 and 20, said loop member normally cannot pass through said space 22; so the connection maintained.

2,990,640 Patented July 4, 1961 ICC Said fingers 18 and 20 are slightly resilient, consequently they can be forcibly spread somewhat farther apart than normal, to :permit said loop member 16 to pass between said ngers 18 and 20. The latter return instantly to nor mal position when the spreading pressure ceases.

It is desirable, for some purposes, to make all portions of said loop member 16 slightly thicker so their minimum width is greater than said space 22. Thus said loop member 16 cannot pass through said space 22, except when said fingers 18 and 20 are forcibly spread farther apart.

Wh-at I claim is:

l. An ornament comprising a main body embodying a loop member at one extremity of said body, and two retainer fingers spaced apart at another extremity thereof, an outer end portion of said loop member being greater in width than the minimum space between said two retainer fingers whereby said loop member cannot pass through said space at its said outer end portion.

2. An ornament comprising a main body embodying a solid central portion extending continuously between opposite extremities of said body, and other portions extending laterally and spaced apart and on oposite sides of said central portion, a closed loop member at one extremity of, and extending from, said central portion, and two retainer fingers spaced apart at another and opposite extremity of :and extending from, said central portion a portion of, said loop member being greater in width than the space between said two retainer fingers whereby said loop member cannot thereat pass through said space.

3. An ornament comprising a main body embodying a closed loop member at one extremity of said body having an oval-shaped opening, and two retainer fingers spaced apart at another extremity thereof, a portion of said loop member normally being greater in width than the space between said two retainer fingers whereby said loop member cannot thereat pass through said space.

4. An ornament comprising a main body, a closed loop member at one extremity of said body, and two retainer fingers spaced apart at another extremity thereof, an outer end portion of said loop member being greater in width than the minimum space between said two retainer fingers whereby said loop member cannot normally pass through said space, said space being of increased width in a direction towards said body and having a maximum width greater than the width of said loop member whereby the latter is free to move in said latter-mentioned space.

5. A plurality of ornaments connected together, one said ornament embodying a closed loop member -at an extremity thereof, another said ornament embodying two retainer ngers spaced apart at another extremity thereof, a portion of said sp ace being lesser in width than the width of said loop member at an outer end whereby the latter cannot normally pass through said space when said ornaments are hung in suspended position, another portion of said space being `greater in width than the width of said loop member whereby the latter is movable in said other space, said loop member extending into the said space between said fingers and being retained therein whereby two said ornaments are connected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,714,269 Charles Aug. 2, 1955 2,775,093 Kundert Dec. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,186,977 France Mar. 2, 1959 812,568 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1959 

